An anticipated photo op with Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier and his Liberal shadow Denis Coderre didn't take place in Afghanistan Sunday.
Coderre, who had insisted on going to Afghanistan without the government's approval, was left waiting after missing a flight.
The Conservatives have accused Coderre of staging a stunt, while the Liberal MP accuses the government of overplaying successes in Afghanistan.
"Are they lying? The problem with the... Conservative government is the lack of transparency," Coderre told 麻豆影视 on Sunday. "It seems that they always have those rosy glasses."
CTV's Steve Chao reported from Afghanistan that he now intends to visit the Kandahar base on Monday for his own impromptu visit with the Canadian military.
The Canadian Commander in Afghanistan, Brigadier General Guy Laroche, said he welcomes visits from all politicians, adding that it provides an opportunity for them to discuss the mission.
Coderre decided to go on his own after the Harper government ignored his repeated calls. He accused the government of playing petty politics by not letting him accompany the two cabinet ministers on their trip.
But the government has maintained that it was the former Liberal administration, under then Defence Minister Bill Graham, who began a policy in 2004 of not allowing lone MPs to travel to Afghanistan.
Coderre's arrival comes as Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier and International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda completed a 36-hour whirlwind tour of Afghanistan and Canadian military operations.
On Sunday, Oda announced a $25 million-program to provide food for Afghan people in areas ravaged by the Taliban militants.
The money will enable people in southern Afghanistan to purchase much needed grains and cooking oil and will add to the 8,700 tonnes of food already distributed to nearly 400,000 people in the country this year.
"This renewed partnership will help ensure that vulnerable Afghan children will continue to receive necessary food aid,'' she said.
At their final photo op, just one of more than a dozen, Bernier was very positive about the mission.
"If I can summarize my trip here in three words," said Bernier, "I will use a 'real positive momentum'."
The picture painted by groups such as the United Nations is bleaker. With more than 5,000 soldiers killed, this year has seen the highest level of violence since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
With a report from CTV's Steve Chao
